Nevada County picayune., 1887-12-07

'1e cdo WliluoW,and tue great trees rocked and seemed to hold out their long arms in warning. Either the wind aud the night or some. thing else had been depressing me all the way. and as we got fairly among the mountains 1 felt an aw- ful weight of anxiety on my mind left my post in minute anC looked anxiously over the machine wondering if there could be any thing the matter with her, though she was as Staunch and true al ways as the sun. All at once, un der the gloom of the majestic mountain ..sid-s. my wife's words came back:
 "Be careful at the Curve Noun. tain cut
 70, nOnsensel' says l. Pm d fool. ltthere was anything wrong the up train two hours ago would have found it out and signaled us.
 But in spite of me, that Be careful at the Curve Mountain cut kept ringing in my ears.
 "l ain't naturally superstitious, and 1 didn't know what to make oi myself. And to prove that l wasn't put on all the steam, and the way we whlzzed along was eau tiOn.
 "A tall white birch on spur of the mountain was landmark that showed the curve cut. 1 deter mined to put her through the cut at full speed, and put my hand on the throttle to pull open the valve, when--as true as Pm living man my wife's voice whispered in my ear: Not that one, Jim, the brake!
 "It startled me so 1 did not know what l was doing, And be- fore 1 knew it 1 had opened the meeting honse for all she was worth. The train came to a stand still, and before Dan (he was firing for me them could ask a question. had jumped off the cab and was out on the track.
 Not a thing was out of place; every rail secure, and the cut was all right, as far as l could see.
 "Idiots,' says to myself. 50 much for nonsense; but it will cost you your place.'
 "The..conductor and brakeman had come out to see what was the matter: and, more to avoid meet iny them and owning my,,silly fears than anything else, 1 walked on a little.
 "Just round the curve was a great tree trunk. blown across the track. Going nearer. l saw 1t wasn't a tree at all, but stick of timber, and it Was fastened down to the rails!
 "If I'd rushed out as l meant to we should have been thrown down a precipice hundreds of fleets among the rocks.
 "I tell you, my hair stood on end tor minute.
 Whats up? says the conduct, or, coming up with the other boys. Nothing but that,' says l, pointing to the track. In two minutes we would every one of us been down there on the rocks that is, our bodies would. 1 reck. on l didn't pull her up any toe quick
 "Well, a more grateful set Of men than them same pOmpous, big Bostonians were you never saw.- And thIs watch. an elegant gold one, too good for me-they gave me. A peep into the jaws of death puts rich and poor on the same level.
 "Mell glad to see me! Well, yOu can guess. And more'n month afterward she said one day:
 "Such queer dream as l had about you, Jim, that night! dreamed I was on the engine with you, and we were going at fright. ful rate. Way in the distance could see a big log on the the track, but you couldn't. And you started to open .the throttle and go faster, but cried: Not that one. Jim; the brake.'" "But my trains ready and must go. Good by"
 W,pxrp'c oo Cahin Rem al i aS